Family Time: Shoe-shopping tips for parents

Tuesday

Apr 22, 2014 at 1:01 AM

Tip of the WeekWhen it comes to the health of your children, you do everything you can to help them grow up healthy and strong. But are you aware of the important role foot health plays in a child's overall development?"Every parent knows the frustration of trying to keep up with children who grow quickly, and that rapid pace of growth can mean children need new shoes and socks every few months," says Dr. Matthew G. Garoufalis, a podiatrist and past president of the American Podiatric Medical Association. "With warm weather on the way, it's a great time for parents to take a look at their children's shoes to ensure they're wearing footwear that will serve them well through the active days of summer."Ill-fitting footwear can irritate kids' feet and aggravate existing conditions caused by injury, heredity, deformity or illness. The APMA offers parents guidance for keeping kids in shoes that properly fit and protect their feet:When shopping for shoes* Take the child with you and have him or her try on the shoes. Every shoe fits differently, so even if you're buying your child's correct size, the shoe still may not be comfortable. Have the child try on footwear with the socks or tights you expect will be worn with the shoes.* Always measure a child's foot before buying new shoes. Children's feet grow so quickly, their shoe size can literally change from month to month.* Shop late in the afternoon when feet are largest, and make sure to fit the shoe to the larger foot. Everyone's feet swell by the end of the day, and no one has feet that are exactly the same size. One will always be slightly larger.* Never buy shoes that are too large or need a "break-in" period. Shoes should be comfortable immediately. "Buying shoes for kids isn't like buying a too-large coat that you know they'll grow into," Garoufalis says. "Shoes that are too big can irritate a child's feet, and even lead to tripping or injury."* Let kids have a say - within reason. "Of course parents will have to guide children toward good choices," Garoufalis says. "But allowing kids to have a say in the shoe-buying process can help promote healthy foot habits down the road."Once your child takes the new shoes home, keep watch to ensure the shoes stay comfortable and in good shape. Examine the child's feet at the end of the day for signs of irritation. If your child always wants to remove one or both of the shoes, it may mean the shoes are uncomfortable.- BrandpointFamily Movie Night“Heaven Is For Real” Rated: PG Length: 100 minutes Synopsis: A film based on the real story of a boy who said he saw heaven and sat with Jesus. Violence/scary rating: 2 Sexual-content rating: 1.5 Profanity rating: 1.5 Drugs/alcohol rating: 1 Family Time rating: 2. A great film for the family.(Ratings are judged on a five-point scale, with 5 being “bad for kids” and 1 being “fine for kids.”)Book Report“Professor Whiskerton Presents Steampunk ABC,” by Lisa FalkensternAges: 3-7 Pages: 32Synopsis: In “Professor Whiskerton Presents Steampunk ABC,” two mice dressed in Victorian clothing use gadgets and found objects — each starting with a different letter of the alphabet — to build a fantastic steampunk surprise. A is for anvil; M is for monkey wrench; P is for periscope. Steampunk-inspired elements abound on every page as the mice make use of ordinary household items — spoons, a sardine tin, life-size toothbrushes — to create the letters and, ultimately, the book’s surprise at the end. Young readers will delight in the mice characters and their fantastical creations, while parents will enjoy the celebration of steampunk — making old things new again, the retro/futuristic details and the emphasis on creativity. With standout illustrations that are both charming and intricate, children and parents alike will want to pore over this story again and again. - Two LionsParenting TipA study presented at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society's annual meeting in Boston says that naps are vital in helping infants and preschoolers remember things they've just learned.More Content Now